The U15 DASSA Select squads enjoyed a rewarding five-day, multisport tour in Hong Kong last week, taking part in matches against local opposition and soaking up the culture.
A total of five teams – boys and girls basketball and football, as well as girls volleyball – took part in the first ever overseas DASSA Select tour from 2nd-6th December.
The squads were made up of top players selected from schools across Dubai who used the tour as an opportunity to get to know each other and showcase the very best of Dubai school sport on the international stage.
An action-packed itinerary saw the young athletes take part in a number of sporting and cultural activities, including sport-specific training sessions, matches against local schools, and trips to historic local landmarks.
Upon the tour group’s arrival home in Dubai on Friday, Michelle Rooney, Head of Sport at Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, said:
“Our sports tour to Hong Kong was nothing short of extraordinary! Trans World Educational Experiences (Twedex) went above and beyond, ensuring the experience for the children was always the top priority.
“This was a true performance tour in every sense – exceptional sports, world-class facilities, and outstanding coaching combined to create something truly unforgettable.
“A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in the event and all the meticulous preparation behind the scenes. Your hard work and dedication made this incredible experience possible, and we are so grateful to have been part of it!”
Day one saw the teams set off on their journey from Dubai to Hong Kong before checking into their accommodation and venturing out to explore their host city.
After a quick photo opportunity against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s iconic skyline, the squads enjoyed the Star Ferry tour and even spoke to some local media before heading back to the hotel to prepare for the first day of sporting action.
Down to business
King George V College played host to the DASSA squads on day two as they took part in their first training sessions of the tour and selected each team’s captain.
The girls basketball team then played the first challenge match of the tour in the afternoon as they defeated South Island School. The boys basketball team followed shortly afterwards, with the DASSA side coming from behind to also claim victory over South Island School.
Day three saw each of the five DASSA teams take part in matches against ESF Select squads. Morning analysis sessions preceded the girls basketball team opening the day’s action with a solid victory over the ESF All Stars.
Fairly comfortable victories then followed for the boys basketball, girls volleyball, and girls football teams, while DASSA’s boys football squad were held to a highly entertaining 3-3 draw against their ESF Select counterparts.
Despite being over three-and-a-half thousand miles from home, each of the teams enjoyed a raucous backing from the sidelines as the other DASSA Squads cheered their teammates on – an excellent example of team unity amongst players coming together for the first time on this tour.
A visit to Hong Kong Football Club kicked off day four before the squads played their final matches of the tour.
The boys football team were first up on the final day of action, putting in a strong team performance and running out 6-4 victors over local side Discovery College. Coach Mr Smith was full of praise for his team at full time, highlighting not just their skill to secure the win, but their character and teamwork.
The girls football team were next up, also emerging victorious over DC by four goals to nil thanks – in no small part – to Bogi Tramontini (Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills) who bagged her second hat-trick of the tour.
Coach Alysha’s girls volleyball team then secured their second 3-0 victory in a row, with the strong bonds formed throughout the team on display for everyone in attendance to see as they were comfortable against DC.
A third win in three games followed for the DASSA girls basketball team as they proved too much for Discovery College to handle in their final game of the tour. Seamless cohesion from back to front meant DC struggled to break down the DASSA side who were also scoring for fun.
“Every player contributed, and the chemistry we’ve built over this tour has been incredible to watch!” – Jess, girls basketball coach
And the boys basketball team rounded off an unbeaten DASSA Select tour when they emerged victorious against Overtime Academy in a highly competitive and entertaining encounter.
A late surge by Rohit Rajkumar (Jumeira Baccalaureate School) to score 14 points in the final minutes secured the win and capped off an unforgettable few days of international sporting action.
The fifth and final day saw the DASSA teams visit the iconic Tian Tan Buddha at Ngong Ping before some free time to wander around the outlet mall. Then in the early evening the DASSA Hong Kong tour officially drew to a close as the squads set off on the long journey back to Dubai.
So the first ever DASSA Select overseas tour proved to be a huge success, with players, coaches, and teachers alike thoroughly enjoying embracing a different culture and showcasing their talents on the international stage.
Andrew Cook, Trans World Educational Experiences (Twedex) Director, said:
“It was fantastic to be in Hong Kong for the first ever DASSA Select sports tour last week. The group had an action-packed schedule with lots of training sessions and matches against local teams.
“With five squads across three sports, there was a lot to consider logistically, but we were lucky to have a great bunch of coaches with us from schools across Dubai who were incredibly supportive throughout.
“We hope the students who took part in the tour have gained some valuable experience from it which they can take back into their DASSA fixtures for the rest of the academic year. For the students who didn’t travel we are looking forward to next year already, so keep working hard at schools and training well and fingers crossed we’ll see you next time.”
You can recap all the action from the DASSA Select Hong Kong tour blow-by-blow via the official live blog by clicking here.
You can also view all the video content from the tour on the Trans World Educational Experiences (Twedex) YouTube channel by clicking here.